Photographic artist Gina Genis enables viewers to see the many facets of the complex and compelling issues of our time. Genis embraces challenging social topics and combines her artistic design sense with her photojournalistic skills to present powerful, passionate works.

“I’ve been drawn to Gina’s work for several years now as an artist that has approached sociopolitical issues in her work,” says Grace K. Anderson, curator of exhibitions at Laguna Art Museum.

“Rather than forcing a particular viewpoint or working in a heavy-handed manner, Gina works serially in her projects. Through her work, Gina has been able to raise to the surface some of the critical social challenges we face today: a society growing older, individual challenges to a struggling economy, and the growing encounter of inequalities in a mostly democratic society,” Anderson says.

Dave Barton, art critic for OC Weekly, says, “Seeing Gina Genis’ work provides the rare opportunity to see the world through a wholly original pair of eyes. Her fierce, socially-committed work is dedicated to showing us a world that we often close our eyes to, but need to see, if we are to be gentler, kinder people.”

An example of her socially committed work is the series entitled “Economy Portraits” that she executed as an artist-in-residence at the Huntington Beach Art Center, and was awarded “Best Art Show of 2011” by OC Weekly. The series was born from the artist’s frustration at conflicting economic reports and analysis in 2011.

To gain clarity, Genis set up a portrait studio in the Huntington Art Center and as people entered the facility, she asked them, “How has the collapse of the economy affected your life?” She layered their hand-written responses over the nearly life-sized portraits, printing them on red, white and black backdrops. For the final presentation, she completed 245 portraits and arranged them into an American flag.

In another series entitled “Things We Leave Behind” Genis took photographs inside the home of a deceased man who had been a hoarder. The artist admits that at first the project gave her many uncomfortable feelings, but each time she returned she studied the objects in more detail and started to feel a connection to the deceased man. Despite the dirty, haphazard mess, she found evidence of a person who loved art, literature and music.

These are just two examples of the way Genis has found connection, dignity and even beauty in situations of chaos, confusion and controversy. She uses the camera lens to absorb much more than just the objective recording of objects and events.

Genis has been in numerous solo and group shows throughout the Southern California region, and her work is in the collections of private, public and corporate collectors. One of her most recent exhibits, “When I’m 64,” was displayed at the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art and will travel to the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster next year.

Genis received her education at Parsons The New School of Design in New York where she received a BFA. She also attended the Lepp Institute for Digital Imaging and The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing in Los Angeles, where she received a BA in fashion design. She works and resides in both Orange and Riverside counties and is associated with several groups and galleries throughout the area.

Genis is part of the newly named Calia Collaborative, which consists of a group of Riverside artists and photographers. She is an instructor for her own series of photography workshops and online instruction. She has been a guest lecturer at Otis College of Art and Design, Biola University, Cypress College and Mt. San Jacinto College. She continues to confront the realities of the world around her and provides us with insight through her skillful, engaging photography.

For more information about the artist, visit her websites at:

www.ginagenis.com

www.ginagenis.photoshelter.com

www.thecompellingimage.com

For more information about the Artist Spotlight, contact The Community Foundation at 951-241-7777 The Community Foundation is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation serving the residents of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. With $60 million in assets, it provides college scholarships and grants to nonprofit organizations across the two-county area. As a philanthropic leader in the Inland Empire, The Community Foundation is widely recognized for its convening and collaboration building initiatives, including the Arts and Culture Initiative.

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